With so many different ways of sharing our tips and tricks for cleaning these days, it can be hard to tell which to choose. I will be giving three different “This vs. That” scenarios and comparing them, with a winner in each.​ First up is vinegar vs. bleach. I talk a lot about vinegar being a go-to when making a homemade cleaner. But does it disinfect as well as bleach? The simple answer is no. Although it does sanitize SOME, its percentages are not the same as bleach. Vinegar is about 90% effective on bacteria vs. 99% with bleach. Viruses, mold and mildew stand next to zero chance of survival when dealing with bleach with 99.9% effectiveness. Vinegar, however, only kills about 80% of viruses, mold and mildew. So to sum up, if you really cant stand the smell and chemicals in bleach, vinegar is an alternative, but it does NOT work as well. My advice is if you don’t want to use bleach, soap and water can be more effective than vinegar if used well.

Second up, is antibacterial soap vs. regular soap. Does antibacterial soap really kill more germs than plain old soap and water? No need to waste your time, the answer is no. The CDC has stated “To date, studies have shown that there is no added health benefit for consumers (this does not include professionals in the healthcare setting) using soaps containing antibacterial ingredients compared with using plain soap. CDC looks forward to any future data about the safety and effectiveness of antibacterial consumer products and will continue to adjust recommendations based on the best available science.”

Our last battle consists of disinfecting wipes vs. disinfecting sprays. In this battle, there is no winner. It’s a tie as far as the numbers go. It simply depends on your preference and convenience. If the surface you are disinfecting may have some dirt on it, you may want to use the wipes to ensure all particles are picked up and thrown away. When using a spray, just make sure to NOT rinse the surface. This will defeat the purpose entirely.

In all summary, first, bleach is your best surface cleaner if you don’t mind the smell. Many types of bleach have scented versions these days. Second, don’t spend those few extra dollars on the “antibacterial” version of soap because the regular kind is just as effective. Lastly, weather you use wipes or sprays to disinfect your home surfaces, you will be getting the same efficiency.